Please help John Quinlan with travel expenses for food. lodging and gas, and in belatedly paying rent and other basic expenses, as he travels home this week from Selma. It was here that he honored the life of his dear friend, nationally-respected civil rights activist Joanne Bland, doing interviews and forging connections as he begins the process of writing her biography.

Quinlan won Madison's 2008 ML King award for his myriad contributions as both an activist and a journalist. This fall, he will be applying his extensive work as a civil rights-focused oral historian to a master's program at the UW-Madison in African American studies.

Joanne Bland was only 11 in 1965 at the time of the historic Selma to Montgomery March for Voting Rights, having already been arrested 13 times for non-violent civil disobedience. She later went on to found and build the grassroots-focused National Voting Rights Museum with the active support of countless UW-Madison students who journeyed South to learn from her.

Ms. Bland and Quinlan first met 21 years ago in Madison and later that year Quinlan traveled south to Selma where he hosted a special edition of his radio show Forward Forum live back to Madison, while simultaneously conducting extensive oral history interviews with his colleague UU minister the Rev. Darrel Richey.

Over the years, Quinlan made five return visits to Selma where he initiated ongoing oral history projects, while Ms, Bland made dozens of trips to the UW and Madison, and throughout Wisconsin, where she told her extraordinary story to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Ms. Bland was a guest on Quinlan 's radio and television programs more than two dozen times. Not only did they develop a fruitful collegial relationship, they'd soon become close friends, engaging in adventures with each other in both the South and the North.

John has been dedicated to honoring Joann's legacy by recording the stories that were told at the March 4th celebration of Joann's life by the hundreds of people who came to Selma to honor Joanne as one of the most admired and respected civil rights leaders of our time, and to mark the 61st anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March.

Rest forever in peace beloved sister Joanne Bland, as all who loved you continue to take your powerful legacy out into the world!